Upper/Lower Split
Description: Four days a week of lifting with a focus on barbell lifts. Two lower body workouts and two upper body workouts per week. Ideal for intermediate or advanced trainees who want to build a great physique and get stronger.
Workout Schedule
This workout schedule is designed to be repeated indefinitely. Use the progression instructions listed in the Progressions section to make your workouts more challenging over time.
= Rest day
Upper Body A
Important: Make sure you've read over the general workout instructions so you understand how to follow this workout.
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
Superset
>
Superset
<
Lower Body A
Important: Make sure you've read over the general workout instructions so you understand how to follow this workout.
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m0s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m0s
Upper Body B
Important: Make sure you've read over the general workout instructions so you understand how to follow this workout.
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps per side 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps per side 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 0m45s
Superset
>
Superset
<
Lower Body B
Important: Make sure you've read over the general workout instructions so you understand how to follow this workout.
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
8 reps per side 75% of 5RM 2m0s
8+ reps per side 75% of 5RM 2m0s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m30s
Goal Weight Logged Reps Logged Weight Rest
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m0s
12-16 reps 65% of 5RM 1m0s
General Workout Instructions

Note:  Please check the Appendix if you encounter any terminology you don't understand.

Instructions:  Every row of an exercise represents a set and specifies the goal for the set, how much to rest after, and how much weight to use* (if applicable). To complete a workout start at the top and move down, working your way through each set.** You can print out the workout and use the blank "Logged" fields to keep track of your workouts. Also please make note of the progression assigned to some exercises, which is denoted by the P icon. This links to progression instructions that will tell you how you should be increasing the difficulty of the exercise over time.

*Calculating Weights:  For weighted exercises that don't assign a specific weight follow the instructions below to calculate what you should be using.

  1. Percent Max Weights (e.g. 80% of 5RM):   Follow the strength testing and weight calculation guide in the Appendix.
  2. Difficulty-based Weights (e.g. Moderate, Light, Heavy):   Pick a weight that matches the given level of difficulty for the goal/number of reps in the set. For example, if the set is 8-12 reps and the weight is moderate, pick a weight that's moderately challenging for 8-12 reps.
  3. Referential Weights (e.g. 90% of 3x8 from Workout A):   Find the set(s) described in the relevant workout and use the weights from there to figure out how much you should be lifting for the current set. For example, let's say the exercise is bench press and the weight prescribed is "90% of 3x8 from Workout A". You'd go to Workout A, find the 3 sets of 8 reps of bench press, take the last weight you logged there, and multiply by 0.9.

**Supersets & circuits:  For exercises grouped into a superset or circuit, loop through the exercises in order doing a single set of each. Keep looping through the exercises doing one set at a time of each until all sets are complete. E.g. if you had a superset with 4 sets/rows of pullups and pushups you'd do the 1st set of pullups then do the 1st set of pushups then the 2nd set of pullups then the 2nd set of pushups etc until all 4 sets of each exercise are finished.

Progression Instructions
P1 Progression 1

Start with 7 reps per set. Add 5 lbs every time you do this workout until you can't complete 7 reps for all sets. When this happens, drop down to 5 reps and continue adding 5 lbs every time you do this workout. Drop down to 3 reps once you can't complete all 5 reps for all sets. Continue adding 5 lbs every time you do this workout. Finally, once you can't complete 3 reps for all sets, temporarily drop your weight by 20% for 1 week, recalculate your weight using your best set of this exercise as your new rep max and start the process over with the new weight and 7 reps per set.

P2 Progression 2

Every workout, you should be doing as many reps as possible on your last set of this exercise. For every 2 reps above the prescribed number that you complete on that last set, add 1 rep(s) to each set. Once you're able to do 12 or more total reps on the last set, increase weight or exercise difficulty (for bodyweight progressions), and drop reps back down before building back up again.

P3 Progression 3

Add reps over time to each set as you're able to. Once you're able to do the maximum prescribed number of reps plus an offset of 0 on all sets, increase weight such that the number of reps you can do is closer to the bottom of the rep range again. For example, for sets of 8-12 the maximum prescribed reps would be 12, and with an offset of 1 you'd increase weight once you could do 13 reps for all sets.

P4 Progression 4

Start with 7 reps per set. Add 10 lbs every time you do this workout until you can't complete 7 reps for all sets. When this happens, drop down to 5 reps and continue adding 10 lbs every time you do this workout. Drop down to 3 reps once you can't complete all 5 reps for all sets. Continue adding 10 lbs every time you do this workout. Finally, once you can't complete 3 reps for all sets, temporarily drop your weight by 20% for 1 week, recalculate your weight using your best set of this exercise as your new rep max and start the process over with the new weight and 7 reps per set.

Terminology

Strength Testing & Weight Calculation
Follow the steps below to figure out how much weight you should be lifting for any exercise that uses percent of max weights (e.g. 80% of 5RM). If you already know your 1 rep max (or anything up to your 12 rep max) for the exercise you can skip to Step 2.
Step 1: Find your rep max

  1. Warm up with a few light reps with a weight that's light for you. You're just doing some reps to get a feel for the motion and warm up your joints, don't tire yourself out.
  2. Now, pick a weight you think you can do at least 5 times but probably not more than 12. If you're unfamiliar with the exercise err on the side of being too light but not by too much.
  3. Do as many reps as you can with the weight you picked, but stop if your form falls apart or you go over 12. Now:
    • If you did anything between 1 and 12 reps with good form: that's your X rep max, where X is the number of reps you performed. Make note of this and proceed to Step 2.
    • If you did more than 12 reps: rest as needed until you feel fully refreshed, go back to (2), and pick a heavier weight. Repeat until the weight you pick puts you in the 1-12 rep range.
    • If you couldn't even do 1 or 2 reps with good form: rest a bit, go back to (2), and pick a lighter weight. Repeat until the weight you pick puts you in the 1-12 rep range.

Step 2: Use your rep max to calculate the weight you should be lifting

  1. Use the table below to find the multiplier you need to go from your known rep max to the prescribed rep max. For example, if you know your 8RM and the exercise is prescribed as a percent of your 5RM (e.g. 80% of 5RM), find the column labeled 8RM and then find the cell within that column in the row labeled 5RM. That's your multiplier, in this example 110% or 1.1.
  2. Now multiply your known rep max by the multiplier to get the rep max you need. Using the example from above let's assume your 8RM is 100 lbs. Multiplying by 110% gives you 110 lbs, that's your 5RM.
  3. Now multiply the prescribed percentage by the rep max you just calculated to get the weight you should be lifting. For example, if the exercise is prescribed as 80% of 5RM and your calculated 5RM is 110 lbs, multiply 110 lbs by 80% to get 88 lbs. Round this weight to a number that makes sense for the equipment you have available and that's what you should lift to start.

Known Rep Max
1RM 2RM 3RM 4RM 5RM 6RM 7RM 8RM 9RM 10RM 11RM 12RM
Needed Rep Max 1RM 100% 106% 110% 114% 116% 120% 125% 128% 132% 133% 139% 143%
2RM 94% 100% 103% 107% 109% 113% 117% 121% 124% 125% 131% 134%
3RM 91% 97% 100% 103% 106% 110% 114% 117% 120% 121% 126% 130%
4RM 88% 94% 97% 100% 102% 106% 110% 113% 116% 117% 122% 126%
5RM 86% 91% 95% 98% 100% 104% 108% 110% 113% 115% 119% 123%
6RM 83% 88% 91% 94% 97% 100% 104% 106% 109% 111% 115% 119%
7RM 80% 85% 88% 91% 93% 96% 100% 103% 105% 107% 111% 114%
8RM 78% 83% 86% 89% 91% 94% 98% 100% 103% 104% 108% 111%
9RM 76% 81% 84% 86% 88% 92% 95% 97% 100% 101% 106% 109%
10RM 75% 80% 82% 85% 87% 90% 94% 96% 99% 100% 104% 107%
11RM 72% 77% 79% 82% 84% 87% 90% 92% 95% 96% 100% 103%
12RM 70% 74% 77% 80% 81% 84% 87% 90% 92% 93% 97% 100%